Vol. 105 No. 08
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014
Box 40, 122 Main Street, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0
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20 pages
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Economic Action Plan 2014 demonstrates commitment to jobs and opportunities, says Block MP Kelly Block is welcoming the federal budget, Economic Action Plan 2014, and its focus on job creation, economic growth, and keeping taxes low – along with its plan to get back to balance by 2015 – as a positive for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar. “Canada has the strongest job creation record among all G-7 countries, with more than 1 million net new jobs created since the depth of the global recession,” said the Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar MP. “Still others are looking for work. That’s why Economic Action Plan 2014 will continue our Conservative government’s focus on creating more jobs which will further the strong economic growth in Saskatoon and surrounding area. For example, the government is providing $15 million to the Ready, Willing and Able Initiative and $11.4 million to Community Works to help persons with intellectual disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders participate in the workforce.” While the NDP and Liberals had been publicly calling for the federal budget to include new tax hikes on Canadians and more deficit spending, Block says the government rejected both demands. Indeed, Economic Action Plan 2014 contained no new taxes on families and businesses, while also continuing to ensure government spending was efficient and effective as possible. “As we’ve seen in places like Greece and Detroit, not having one’s fiscal house in order can lead to incredible economic instability, dramatic cuts to government programs, and higher taxes,” said Block. Economic Action Plan 2014 includes key measures to support Saskatchewan families and strengthen our economy, while keeping taxes low and returning to balanced budgets in 2015, includ-
ing: • Launching the Canada Job Grant: so that Canadians can get the skills training they need to get in-demand jobs. • Creating the Canada Apprentice Loan: which will provide apprentices in Red Seal trades access to over $100 million in interestfree loans each year. • Launching a Job Matching Service: this new service will automatically match Canadians looking for work with employers looking to hire them. • Increasing Paid Internships for Young Canadians: investing $55 million to create paid internships for recent graduates in small and medium-sized businesses and in highdemand fields. • Helping Older Workers Get Back to Work: investing $75 million in the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers to support older workers who want to participate in the job market. • Cutting Red Tape for Small Business: cutting 800,000 payroll remittances for 50,000 small businesses. • Supporting Families: enhancing tax relief for families adopting a child, expanding tax relief for health-related services, capping wholesale wireless rates to make service more affordable, cracking down on cross-border price discrimination, and more. • Strengthening Communities: improving broadband in rural and remote communities, establishing a $200 million National Disaster Mitigation Program to help communities prepare for natural disasters, introducing a Search and Rescue Volunteers Tax Credit, and more. • Standing Up for Victims of Crime: implementing the Victim’s Bill of Rights and proving funding for a DNA-based Missing Persons Index. • And much more. “Unlike the previous Liberal government, who balanced the budget on the backs of the provinces, our Conservative government continued to grow provin-
cial transfers to record levels,” Block explained. For Saskatchewan, the federal budget confirmed that transfers will total $1.4 billion 2014-15 – a whopping 31 per cent in-
crease from under the previous Liberal government, she added. “While the Liberals radically slashed transfers to Saskatchewan, decimating the health care, education
Citius, Altius, Fortius . . . Biggar Central School students carry the five rings, six coloured Olympic flag into the Woodrow Lloyd Gymnasium, Friday, opening their mini-Winter Olympics. A great way to celebrate
and other important social services that families here rely on, under our Conservative Government federal support has grown to historic levels, and will continue to grow into the
future,” concluded Block.
and recognize the Sochi Games, for both BCS and St. Gabriel schools, it was also a perfect way to have some fun going into the February break. See Page 2 for more. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Sunshine brings out the pie lovers! by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery Last Friday was Valentines’ Day . . . and the museum’s annual Pie and Tea Sale fund raiser! Volunteers from town baked up delicious pies, and delivered them to the museum. From there, volunteers delivered pies to the businesses that had placed their orders. Then in the afternoon, the more pies were sliced and sold with a cup of tea or coffee in the Credit Union Gallery! The turnout for the tea was great! The gallery was all set up in a Valentines theme, tea or coffee was served in china cups, and one could try to decide what flavour of pie they wanted to eat! Everyone loves pie, and everyone has their favourite . . . apple, lemon meringue, berry, cherry, pumpkin, all the favourites were there! Despite the weather being rather stormy earlier in
the week, Friday the sun came out and really cheered up the winter weary, and they were able to come to the museum and cheer
themselves even more with a piece of homemade pie! Conversation and yums! filled the gallery. Many got to see “Garden
Immaculate” by Lindsay Arnold. A North Portal, Saskatchewan artist, her latest show will be in the Gallery until Feb. 21.
Don’t know why there’s no sun up in the sky . . . With apologies to Billie Holiday and her classic “Stormy Weather”, Wednesday, February 12 was not a pleasant day to be out. Snow and blowing snow hit the area with many of the streets in town drifting over and highways slippery and treacherous. A short while later, warmer weather hit the area - a reprieve from the bone-chilling elements we’ve experienced so far. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)